Teen Athlete Continues Active Lifestyle Thanks to Tissue Transplant

Seventeen year old Chance Murski
from Richmond, Texas, was born with a discoid meniscus.
Sometimes called, Knee-Popping Syndrome, a discoid meniscus is an
abnormally shaped meniscus within the knee joint. This can cause a
popping sensation with pain over the outside part of the knee joint.
Many people live normal, active lives with a discoid meniscus--even
high performance athletes.

Unfortunately, this was not the
case with Chance. Whenever he bent his right knee, a “pop” could be
heard. He had his first surgery at the age of five. At that
time, the surgeon told Chance’s parents that he would have to have
another surgery in his teenage years to allow room for the growth of
his femur bone.

Chance started playing baseball
at the age of six in the position of catcher. In 2004,
Chance’s team, the Lamar Blaze, advanced to the Little League World
Series and won. Shortly after this accomplishment, Chance was scheduled
for additional surgeries.

The Murskis felt
guilty for allowing Chance to pursue athletics. Their surgeon, Dr.
Walter Lowe, assured them that this surgery is common in catchers. He
told them they should be proud of Chance for what he’s been able to
accomplish thus far with his birth defect.

One year after his surgery on February 5, 2008,

Dr.
Lowe released Chance to start jogging, swinging a bat and
throwing a baseball once again. By the end of the season, he had the
top stats out of 20 baseball players on the Junior Varsity High School
Baseball team.

“With
out the donor, modern technology and the obvious passion of this
surgeon, Chance would not have a normal knee, and much less be able to
pursue his dreams,” stated Chance’s mother, Tara.